Nothing But Payne - 22

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For the spicy (18+) version of this chapter, find the designated book on my profile.

Glen slept for a total of three days, during which time Payne and I would watch over her at night, and in the mornings Nora and Kassidy would come relieve us for a while. Azora and Nora have kept the silence between them, which is probably for the best.

The wolves bodies were handled appropriately. Each and every family had a private discussion to discuss their choices: their loved one could either be burned, or buried with a stake in their heart. If they were to be burned, their ashes could be kept. That was the choice most of the families went with.

Glen did not get a choice, Kriv was burned. His ashes were put in a light blue vase with swirling, dotted silver accents. His body was already devastated from the fight that took his life; and further so when he came back.

I used some of the time to finally write back to my parents, Lyon, and Limmie. The letters got sent out when the messenger wolves returned, and I'm now waiting to hear back. I had so much to say that I filled the front and back side of the paper. About my first days here, the Luna, my training, meeting Payne, finding out he was my mate, the attacks. The only part I left out was the part about Matias coming here. The way wolves whisper amongst themselves, I didn't figure I should waste my time writing about it.

I made sure to tell them how much I miss them. I miss our jokes and eating dinner with mom, dad, and Lyon. I miss running around Deadpaw with Limmie, and staying up for hours and hours, just talking between us. I just don't have a relationship like that with anyone here yet.

The king's response back was written on crisp parchment, stating that his daughter and her escort would be arriving soon to investigate the situation. Payne said she could arrive any day now.

When I asked him if I should prepare, he just laughed and said "I'm not sure any preparation would be sufficient to meet the princess." That did nothing to settle my nerves. Occasionally lycans would come to Deadpaw, but they were usually there on business, and only to speak to the Alpha and Luna. They never stayed more than a night. More than that, there were definitely no royals.

There were wolves that scorned their presence, and those who huddled around them like flies on an old carcass. I'd seen too many of the females try to convince visiting males to take them back to Baran to see the city, to show them the great garden of roses. It never worked.

When Glen finally wakes, Payne and I have been tossing and turning for about an hour. Even I have grown tired of the cots, but he hasn't uttered a word of complaint about our sleeping situation.

My eyes snap open - a sound comes from the side of the room reserved for Glen. It's a small sob, a noise of confusion as she comes out of her deep sleep. A second later and I'm up, heart pumping in my chest. There's a kind of fear that makes me move so quick - I've never faced a vampire before. Especially not anything like what we've been seeing lately.

I can feel my heart racing as I remember Kriv, out of his mind. As I think of all of it coming back to her. Her lips are blue, like she's suffocating, but I can see the rise and fall of her chest that says she's not.

Then she screams so loud that my eardrums ring out in protest. It's pure agony turned into tangible sound, ripping through the air and into me. She slips back against the wall, away from us. Her mouth is half-closed, like her teeth are having trouble fitting in her mouth all the way.

Payne and I stand side by side. Glen's eyes shift between us - at me, then Payne, then me again. They're distended in a way that makes them appear to be bulging from her skull.

She doesn't have the same look in her eyes that Kriv did, she doesn't look lost to some foreign rage. It's all bloodlust. She begins to sob - loud at first, then quiet to herself. Her body shakes with the force. "Glen?" Her mouth opens to ask a single question: "What of Kriv?"

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